444 



Jackson^ s Anatomical Description 



the Testudo Indica and that there is no otiier species 

 with which it can be confounded. Dr. Bell, however, 

 the author of a very splendid work on the TESTUDIKATA, 

 now in the course of publication in London, regards the 

 two as the same species ; — that it is indigenous to the 

 Galapagos Islands, and has been casually Introduced into 

 other countries through the medium of commerce. This 

 diiference of opinion maybe accounted for by the remark 

 which has been made, that entirely distinct species are 

 found in this group of islands. 



Captains Porter, Delano, Basil Hall, and more recently 



Mr 



I 



given an interesting description of these tortoises — of the 



^^^ r 



profusion in which they are found, such as to have fur- 

 nished a name for these islands to the Spaniards who dis- 



f 



covered them {galaj^ago, a fresh-water tortoise) 

 their immense size, some of them weighing between 3 

 and 400 pounds— their being able to live without food or 

 water for a year or more, their harmless disposition, their 

 ungainly and even disgusting appearance, their clumsy 

 movements and their great delicacy as an article of food, 

 far exceeding, according to Capt. Porter, the finest green 

 turtle. The following additional account of their habits 

 was prepared for the Society by Mr. Reynolds, the author 

 of the " Voyage of the Potomac," a gentleman to whom 

 the Society is indebted for many valuable donations, and 

 at whose suggestion Capt. Downes was induced to present 



paper 



H 



specmiens 



e says 



May 



embracing the rainy season, the Terapin leaves the moun- 

 tams and high grounds and may be found spread in all 

 directions over the plains and low grounds near the sea, 

 where they feed principally upon the prickly pear, and 



j^ 



